Han Dingxiang
Encyclopedia
Han Dingxiang was an underground Roman Catholic bishop of Yongnian
, a division of Hebei province, in China
. Dingxiang was detained for much of his ministry for his loyalty to the Vatican
as opposed to the Chinese government-controlled Roman Catholic Church.
In 1960, Han was sentenced to and served 19 years in a Chinese labor camp
during the rule of Mao Zedong
. It is not known whether his sentence was related to religious activity.
in 1986. He was elevated by the Vatican to the Bishop of Yongnian Diocese in 1989 just three years later. Han recognized the pope
as head of the Chinese Catholic Church
, not the government in Beijing. The Chinese government requires that all members of Christian denominations register and worship in state sponsored churches. By law, Christians of all denominations must worship in state-registered churches. Chinese Catholics, such as Han, who recognize the Pope
in Rome
as head of the Church must worship in underground churches, often called house churches.
The Chinese government allows Chinese Catholics to recognize the Pope
in Rome
as a spiritual leader
. However, the government rejects the notion that the Vatican alone has the authority to appoint bishops. The Chinese government often appoints its own bishops to its state controlled Catholic Church. Bishops appointed secretly by the Vatican must practice underground or risk detention and arrest.
Han Dingxiang was detained on eleven separate occasions during his tenure as Bishop of Yongnian. Han last arrest took place in November 1999.
Han was reportedly caught leading a religious retreat for Catholic nuns in Shijiazhuang
, the capital of Hebei.
Han was still under house arrest
or other forms of detention stemming from his 1999 arrest at the time of death in 2007. He had served over eight years and had been kept in several locations, including a housing complex for Chinese police and their families.
Han Dingxiang died on September 9, 2007 at a hospital in China while still in police custody. He was being treated for an undisclosed illness, which was reportedly lung cancer
. His family had only recently been notified about his poor health. Han was reportedly cremated and buried just six hours after his death.
The Cardinal Kung Foundation
, a Catholic monitoring group based in the United States, urged the Vatican to investigate Han's death.
Yongnian County
Yongnian County is a county of Hebei, China. It is under the administration of Handan City.-Administrative Divisions:Towns:*Linluoguan , Dabeiwang , Guangfu , Yonghehui , Nanyancun , Zhangxibao Townships:...
, a division of Hebei province, in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Dingxiang was detained for much of his ministry for his loyalty to the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
as opposed to the Chinese government-controlled Roman Catholic Church.
Early life
Han Dingxiang was born on May 17, 1937 in Hebei province in northern China.In 1960, Han was sentenced to and served 19 years in a Chinese labor camp
Labor camp
A labor camp is a simplified detention facility where inmates are forced to engage in penal labor. Labor camps have many common aspects with slavery and with prisons...
during the rule of Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
. It is not known whether his sentence was related to religious activity.
Catholic Church
Han was ordained a Roman Catholic priestPriest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
in 1986. He was elevated by the Vatican to the Bishop of Yongnian Diocese in 1989 just three years later. Han recognized the pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
as head of the Chinese Catholic Church
Roman Catholicism in China
Roman Catholicism in China has a long and complicated history...
, not the government in Beijing. The Chinese government requires that all members of Christian denominations register and worship in state sponsored churches. By law, Christians of all denominations must worship in state-registered churches. Chinese Catholics, such as Han, who recognize the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
as head of the Church must worship in underground churches, often called house churches.
The Chinese government allows Chinese Catholics to recognize the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
as a spiritual leader
Spiritual leader
Spiritual leader is a form of title that is used to refer to religious leaders.In Buddhism, spiritual leaders are usually the people who have attained high level of spiritual awareness. Those spiritual teachers can guide people on their path toward spiritual awakening.Spiritual Leader may be a...
. However, the government rejects the notion that the Vatican alone has the authority to appoint bishops. The Chinese government often appoints its own bishops to its state controlled Catholic Church. Bishops appointed secretly by the Vatican must practice underground or risk detention and arrest.
Han Dingxiang was detained on eleven separate occasions during his tenure as Bishop of Yongnian. Han last arrest took place in November 1999.
Han was reportedly caught leading a religious retreat for Catholic nuns in Shijiazhuang
Shijiazhuang
Shijiazhuang is the capital and largest city of North China's Hebei province. Administratively a prefecture-level city, it is about south of Beijing...
, the capital of Hebei.
Han was still under house arrest
House arrest
In justice and law, house arrest is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to his or her residence. Travel is usually restricted, if allowed at all...
or other forms of detention stemming from his 1999 arrest at the time of death in 2007. He had served over eight years and had been kept in several locations, including a housing complex for Chinese police and their families.
Han Dingxiang died on September 9, 2007 at a hospital in China while still in police custody. He was being treated for an undisclosed illness, which was reportedly lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
. His family had only recently been notified about his poor health. Han was reportedly cremated and buried just six hours after his death.
The Cardinal Kung Foundation
Cardinal Kung Foundation
The Cardinal Kung Foundation is a not-for-profit Roman Catholic organization based in Stamford, Connecticut. Founded in 1994 by Joseph Kung, nephew of the late Cardinal Ignatius Kung Pin-Mei, the foundation monitors the treatment of Catholics in China and that portion of the Catholic Church in...
, a Catholic monitoring group based in the United States, urged the Vatican to investigate Han's death.
External links
- Los Angeles Times: Pro-Rome Chinese bishop is reported dead
- http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2007/09/11/4487668-ap.html